Definition Theatre announces it will open its 2020/21 Season with the Chicago premiere of WHITE by newly-added ensemble member James Ijames, directed by Tasia A. Jones. WHITE will run from April 17 – May 24, 2020, with a press opening on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00pm. Definition Theatre presents WHITE in collaboration with Steppenwolf Theatre’s LookOut Series in the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre. Tickets for WHITE are on sale and can be purchased online at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling 312-335-1650. The 1700 Theatre is located behind Front Bar at 1700 N Halsted.
Gus is a painter expecting his big break with a prestigious contemporary art museum in 'The New America' exhibition. When he's told by the museum's new curator that "white dudes" aren't a part of New America, he enlists the help of Vanessa, a black actress, and together they create Balkonae Townsend, a bold, young radical artist to serve as the face of his work. But when things start to spiral out of control, Gus is left to deal with the mess he created, and Vanessa must come to terms with her own agency as an artist. Audacious and bitingly funny, WHITE, explores white privilege, racial politics and the fine line between appropriation and opportunity.
Director Tasia A. Jones comments, “I'm very excited to work with Definition Theatre on WHITE by James Ijames. James's work is timely, provocative, and thought provoking. WHITE is strikingly relevant to our present moment. James has crafted this play with biting humor and authenticity while asking essential social questions. As theaters and art institutions grow more concerned with equity, diversity, and inclusion how do they ensure that they are not objectifying or tokenizing the very people they aim to include? I can't wait to see how the Chicago arts community—artists and audiences alike—responds to this play.”
The WHITE production team includes Scott Penner (Scenic Designer), Sanja Manakoski (Costume Designer), Simean Carpenter (Lighting Designer) David Samba (Sound Designer) Sam Rosenfeld (Props Designer) and Maddie Martin (Production Manager). Additional credits include Jared Bellot (Dramaturg), Toni Ward (Stage Manager), and Ariel Beller (Assistant Stage Manager). Cast announcement to follow.
Beginning in the summer of 2020, Definition Theatre will officially begin a residency at the Green Line Performing Arts Center, located at 329 E Garfield Blvd. Green Line Performing Arts Center, the latest addition to the Arts Block, is a vital new theater venue and rehearsal space to support the arts across Chicago’s South Side, and serves as a platform for artistic expression and public gatherings, contributing to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the Washington Park neighborhood.
Definition Theatre also announces the addition of three new artists to its ensemble. Joining the ensemble are actress Danielle Davis, director Sophiyaa Nayar, and playwright James Ijames.
“We are thrilled to expand our chosen family and give these incredible artists a creative home in Chicago,” notes Definition Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips. “Definition Theatre is committed to making room and supporting marginalized artists and continuing to add bold new voices to the American theater cannon.”
About the Artists
Danielle Davis is a Chicago native. Credits include An Octoroon (Definition Theatre); Romeo and Juliet & A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Music Man (Goodman Theatre); BLKS (Steppenwolf Theatre); Fun Home (Victory Gardens Theater); Ragtime (Griffin Theatre); Rent (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre); Love, Loss, and What I Wore (First Folio Theatre); Women at War (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble). She has also worked with Chicago Children's Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Black Ensemble Theater, and Adventure Stage Chicago. Television credits include Shameless (Showtime); ChicagoPD (NBC); Empire (FOX); Easy and Sense8 (Netflix). Danielle holds a BFA in Acting, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
Sophiyaa Nayar’s recent directing credits include: EthiopianAmerica By Sam Kabede (Definition Theatre) which won BTA Awards for best play, featured actor and actress. Big Little Eyes with Stir Friday Night (Steppenwolf LookOut Series, Second City), Passage by Lauren Ramos (Barrens Theatre Co). Readings of 2020: a going away party play by Keyanna Khatiblou (Theatre on The Lake), Matt & Ben by Mindy Kaling & Brenda Withers (The Boxcar, Steep Theatre), Reverse Cowboy by Jared Sprowls (Jackalope Theatre) and Amelie by Lauren Gunderson (American Players Theatre, Winter Words). Assistant directing credits include A Doll's House, Part 2 (Steppenwolf Theatre), Our Country’s Good (American Players Theatre) and The Who and The What (Milwaukee Rep). Sophiyaa was a member of Director's Lab Chicago 2017, a finalist for the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a directing resident in Milwaukee Repertory Theatre's 2017/18 season and is part of the SDC Foundation’s 2019/20 Observership Class, through which she worked on Soft Power by Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang at The Public (Off Broadway). Her upcoming projects include directing MLK Projectby Yolanda Vasquez at Writers Theatre, assistant directing Nollywood Dreams by Jocelyn Bioh at The MCC (Off Broadway) and curating the Cold Sweat immersive festival (Barrens Theatre Co).
James Ijames is a Philadelphia based performer and playwright. He has appeared regionally in productions at The Arden Theatre Company, The Philadelphia Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, The Wilma Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Mauckingbird Theatre Company, and People’s Light and Theatre.
James’ plays have been produced by Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, Theatre Horizon, Wilma Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The National Black Theatre (NYC), Ally Theatre (Washington DC) Definition Theatre (Chicago IL) Shotgun Players (Berkeley, CA) and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Lark, Playwright's Horizon, Clubbed Thumb, Villanova Theater, The Gulfshore Playhouse, Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre The National Black Theatre and Victory Garden.
James was awarded the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist recipient, and he also won two Barrymores for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play for Superior Donuts and Angels in America and one Barrymore for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Brothers Size with Simpatico Theatre Company. James is a 2011 Independence Foundation Fellow, a 2015 Pew Fellow for Playwriting, the 2015 winner of the Terrance McNally New Play Award for WHITE, the 2015 Kesselring Honorable Mention Prize winner for ....Miz Martha, a 2017 recipient of the Whiting Award and a 2019 Kesselring Prize for Kill Move Paradise.
James is a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia’s first playwright producing collective. He received a B.A. in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and a M.F.A. in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. James is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Villanova University and resides in South Philadelphia.
FACT SHEET/WHITE
Title: WHITE
Written by: Ensemble Member James Ijames
Directed by: Tasia A. Jones
Production Team: Tasia A. Jones (Director), Maddie Martin (Production Manager), Scott Penner (Scenic Designer), Sanja Manakoski (Costume Designer), Simean Carpenter (Lighting Designer) and David Samba (Sound Designer), Sam Rosenfeld (Props Designer). Additional credits include Jared Bellot (Dramaturg) Toni Ward (Stage Manager), Ariel Beller (Assistant Stage Manager).
Location: Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre (1700 N Halsted)
Previews: April 17 – 24, 2020, $20 for all preview tickets.
Press
Opening: Saturday, April 25 at 6:00pm
Regular run: April 29 – May 24, 2020
Preview ticket
prices: $20
Regular run
ticket prices: $25-$40
Box Office: The Box Office is located at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614; 312.335.1650; www.steppenolf.org
Schedule: Wednesdays: 8 p.m.
Thursdays: 8 p.m.
Fridays: 8 p.m.
Saturdays: 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays: 3:30 p.m.
About Definition Theatre Company
Definition Theatre is a culturally diverse theater dedicated to telling language-driven, relationship-oriented, socially relevant stories about and created with underrepresented communities in Chicago. We pride ourselves on leading the way as an anti-racist organization rooted in engaging and educating future artists and audiences.
Definition has built its reputation on work that reflects its unique voice. It shared the words of Academy Award-Winner Tarell Alvin McCraney in The Brothers Size; it grooved with Amiri Baraka's whirlwind story of a chance meeting on a train in Dutchman; and staged its first world premiere production, Genesis, written by ensemble member Mercedes White and inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s iconic masterwork A Raisin in the Sun. In partnership with, The New Colony staged the world premiere of Byhalia, Mississippi, which starred Academy Award nominee ensemble member Kiki Layne. In association with the Goodman Theatre, Definition staged the Chicago premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, a subversive take on race in America that captivated audiences. Most recently, Definition sent us all to the moon with James Ijames’s Moon Man Walk and explored the challenges of America’s public-school system through Nilaja Sun’s No Child… and highlighted the first-generation experience in the World premiere of Sam Kebede’s ETHIOPIANAMERICA.
Ensemble members include Owais Ahmed, Jared Bellot, Carley Cornelius, Ari Craven, Danielle Davis, Martasia Jones, Slick Jorgensen, Kristy Hall, James Ijames, Kiki Layne, Maddie Martin, Kelson Michael McAuliffe, Neel McNeill, Sophiyaa Nayar, Alexandra Oparka, Julian Parker, Tyrone Phillips, Jacqueline Rosas, Christopher Sheard, Dujon Smith and Mercedes White. Artistic Advisory Board members include director May Adrales, Steppenwolf ensemble member Alana Arenas, actress Shannon Cochran, Victory Gardens Theater Managing Director Erica Daniels, actor Brandon Dirden, actor Jason Dirden, Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, director Pam Mackinnon, Equity Quotient CEO Keryl McCord, professor JW Morrissette, director Ron OJ Parson, professor/lighting designer Kathy Perkins, Tony Award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad, and Goodman Theatre director in residence Chuck Smith. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director and Neel McNeill is the Executive Director. For additional information, visit definitiontheatre.org and facebook.com/definitiontheatrecompany #stayinit